Island



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet l.

J. B. CLARK.

MACHINE FOR MULTIPLE FOLDING WIDE FABRICS.

N0.-483,735. Patented Oct. 5-1892.

THE Norms PETERS 0a., mom-mun mswmarcm, 0. c4

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

( No Model) J. B. CLARK. MACHINE FOR MULTIPLE FOLDING WIDE FABRICS.

.Patented| ,00t. 4, 1892.

INV E N TCIR,

CALWR.

:Yincmni,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JEROME B. CLARK, OF ALLENDALE, ASSIGNOR TO THE ALLENDALE COM- PANY, OFPROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

MACHINE FOR MULTIPLE- FOLDING WIDE FABRICS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Yatent No. 483,735, dated October4, 1892.

Application filed J'une 22, 1891.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J EWROME B. CLARK, a citiaen of the United States,residing at Allendale, 1n the county of Providence and State of RhodeIsland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machinesfor Multiple-Folding Wide Fabrics; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and toletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

The improvement forming the subject of my invention relates to a novelmachine for longitudinally folding webs of cotton cloth or other pliablefabrics having considerable width.

The object I have in view is to produce a machine so constructed andarranged that the cloth or fabric (in a single-ply state) in its passagethrough it will be continuously folded in a longitudinal direction, theform of the folded cloth as it leaves the machine being four-ply ortwice folded.

The machine may be provided with a supplemental folder arranged to foldthe cloth transversely preparatory to book-folding and pressing thecloth for the market.

To that end my invention consists, essentially, of an initial guide orfolder-plate arranged to engage and fold the cloth, a series ofoppositely-moo nted secondary folder-plates arranged to receive theonce-folded or twoply fabric and refold the latter into a fourply ortwice-folded form while it is traveling along and in contact with thesaid folderplates, and mechanism for drawing the thusfolded cloththrough the machine.

By means of myimprovement the mounted rolled web of wide cloth is as itunrolls first folded centrally in a longitudinal direction by the use ofthe initial guide or plate. The thus once-folded or two-ply travelingcloth is next deflected or diverted so as to engage a series ofadjustable horizontally-arranged oppositely-mounted stationary guides orplates, which act to crease and again fold or produce a twice-foldedcloth, an attendant at the same time keeping the two selvages of therunning Serial No. 397,110. (No model.)

cloth true and parallel; or, in other words, the series of guides lastnamed are secured to the free ends of fixed arms, and are sepa ratedfrom each other laterally or transversely of the machine. When thusarranged the guides-say at the left side of the 111510111118 engage withand form a center crease along the inner surface or center of insidefold of the twice-folded cloth, while at the same time the opposite orright guides are inclosed between the folds and engage the crease formedby the first or initial guide-plate. The said right guides are securedto bent or reflexed arms, the latter having the elbow portions 6 5substantially in line with the outer edges or faces of the left guides,the cloth at the same time having its inner fold traveling within theinner angle or hollow of the elbow, while the outer fold of the cloth isbent around and in contact with the exterior of the elbow portion of thearms-that is to say, the righthand guides and their supporting-arms arepractically inclosed between and concealed within the upper and lower orinner and outer 7 5 folds of the traveling web of cloth, all as will bemore fully hereinafterset forth and claimed.

In the appended two sheets of drawings, Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents aside elevat on of a cloth-folding machine embodying my 1mprovements.Fig. 2 is a plan View, portions of the mechanism being omitted. F1g. 3,Sheet 2, is an enlarged plan view of the delivcry-end portion of themachine, the cloth being removed. Fig. 4 is a similar plan View, thefabric being in position as in use, a portion of it, however, beingbroken away. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional View, enlarged, taken online to w of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional View taken online ac 0a of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectionalview, enlarged, takenon line a: 00 of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 1s a similar sectional view taken online 0 o of Fig. 3. Fig. 9 indicates the width of the cloth or fabricbefore being folded or in a single- 5 ply state. Fig. 10 represents thecloth once folded or two-ply. Fig. 11 is the same when again doubled ortwice folded the cloth thus folded having a four-ply thickness; andFigs. 12, 13, 14: and 15 are similar transverse secxoo tional viewsshowing the fabric folded in a four-ply form in different ways and alsoshowing the relations of the secondary folderplates thereto.

In carrying out my invention the several folder-plates or cloth-guidesof the machine A are mounted on a suitable framework fof wood or othermaterial. The form and arrangement of the parts composing said frame maybe varied or modified as desired.

To the cloth-entering end of the machine is secured a pair of upturnedbrackets 0*, arranged to receive the center or arbor, on which is woundthe piece or web of fabric a. The cloth ortextile fabric referred to maybe made of cotton, wool. linen, silk,- or other fibrous material. Myinvention is, however, more particularly adapted to be employed forfolding goods having considerable width-as, for example, sheetings andother six-quarters to twelve-quarters wide or even wider fabrics.

The driving and feeding mechanisms are located at the delivery end ofthe machine. The same consists simply of a pair of oppositely-revolvingrolls a, between which the folded fabric is drawn, thereby at the sametime pressing the cloth to a certain extent. To the shaftof one of therolls-say the lower one-is secured a pulley on, power being communicatedto it by a belt b", leading from any suitably-driven pulley. The rollsrevolve in unison by means of gears 0, secured to the roll-shafts. Theupper roll-shaft is mounted in movable boxes to, Fig. 1,backed by anadjustably-mounted spring 8 thereby affordingmeans whereby the attendantmay readily regulate or control the pressure upon the traveling fabric.

In some cases it is desirable that the twicefolded orfour-ply fabric beintermittingly cross-folded as it leaves the rolls a. In order to effectthis, I provide the machine with a supplemental folder, substantiallythe same as commonly used on cloth drying and finishing machines-that isto say, a pair of downwardly-extending arms Z, secured to a mountedshaft m, are vibrated back and forth intermittingly by a link orconnection n, jointed to one of the arms and to a crank-pin n mounted inone of the gears of the lower roll. (See Figs. 1 and 3.) The lower endof the arms or levers are connected by tie-rods or guides or, separatedfrom each other, between which the cloth freely passes, the action ofthe device being to pile up the cloth in a zig zag manner in continuouslayers, as at a Fig. 1. From the foregoing it isapparent that the clothis continuously unrolled and drawn through the rolls a at any practicalrate of speed corresponding to the speed of the driving-belt. The web ofcloth a as it unrolls from the arbor is centrally andcontinuouslycreased and folded longitudinally by means of a normallystationaryinitial guide or folder plate g, Fig. 1, extending, as drawn, above thetop and longitudinally of the frame f. The working face or edge of theguide g is well rounded lengthwise and quite thin transversely. It maybe made of hard wood or metal. The guide may be adjusted vertically byloosening the holding-down bolts g which also pass through slotted holesformed in the guide-base. A horizontally-mounted guide-roll a" islocated intermediate of the guide g and the roll of cloth for thepurpose of effecting a better engagement of the cloth with thefolder-plate. The cloth as it leaves the latter is once folded ortwo-ply, its upper or double edge forming a central crease or seam a.(See also Fig. 10.) The thus oncefolded cloth is next deflected atsubstantially right angles or horizontally to its former position andintroduced to a series of secondary folder plates or guides 11 c, soonto be described. (See Sheet 2 of the drawings.) These plates, it will beseen, are arrangedlongitudinally of the machine and on either sidethereof, the same being fixed to the outer or free ends of arms securedto the frame. The ends of these guides are well rounded, so as toreadily enter the folds of the cloth. The guides may be made of hardwoodor other suitable material and finished substantially like the guide g,before described.

By referring to Fig. 3 it will be seen that, as therein drawn, there areat the left side of the machine three short guides Z7, each beingsecured to a somewhat upwardly-bent metallic arm 6, the latter in turnbeing secured to the right side of the framef.

The machine is further provided at the right with a long guide-plate c,the same being located opposite to but substantially in the same planewith the shorter guides 12. The guide 0 is secured to short arms d, thelatter being adj ustably secured to reversely bent or refiexed arms cl,alternating with the arms 6 and fastened to the same side of the frame.The upper or free end portion cl of the arms cl are provided each withslots, through which suitable screws or bolts h pass. By this latterarrangement the guide 0 may be readily adjusted transversely of themachine, so as to bring it nearer to or farther from the other guidesI), such adjustment being necessary or convenient in order to effect aproper relation of the width of the several folds of the various cloths.The elbows p, formed at the point where the arms (1 are bent orreflexed, are adapted to serve as a low guides b at the opposite side ofthe frame,

each then being mounted on an adjustable arm, as just described.

It will be seen that the series of secondary or lateral guides o c arelocated between the initial guide g and the feed-rolls u, the initialand secondary guides being longitudinally separated from each other asuflicient distance to readily permit the folded cloth to be graduallyturned or deflected about ninety degrees before it engages the foldersor guides ITO b c. The front ends of the latter I place sufficientlynear to the feed-rolls (see Fig. 3) to thereby insure that the foldedcloth enters the rolls properly.

The manner of continuously folding fabrics according to my improvementis substantially as follows: The roll of cloth is first suitablymounted. The free end of the piece or web is next carried forward by'theattendant to engage a suitable guide or folder arranged to crease andfold it once longitudinally. The thus once-folded or two-ply cloth isthen, as represented in the drawings, turned over at substantially-rightangles, thus at the same time approximately refolding it, and the thustwice-folded or four-ply end introduced by the attendant to engage theright and left guides ch,whichhavebeenpreviouslyadjustedorseparated, soas to transversely divide the cloth evenly-say into four divisions. Thecloth is now drawn alongin close contact with the outer edges of theguides and passed between the revolving feed-rolls u, which latter alsoact to simultaneously press the fabric, one of the rolls being madeadjustable in order to regulate the pressure as desired. The drivenrolls now draw the fabric through the machine and deposit it upon thefloor oratable beneat-h, or it may be conducted therefrom in any properdirection. Practically, however, I provide the machine with a pair ofsuitably-operated vi- .brating folder-arms Z, arranged to receive thecloth and deliver it folded in a zigzag manner, as at (1 Fig. 1.

I would state that the inner adjacent sides of the middleorcentrally-creased portion a of the two-ply or once-folded cloth bearagainst and inclose the right secondary guide 0, the left or oppositeguides 12 at the same time again subdividing or twice folding the cloth,thereby forming a corresponding crease a the inner folds of the clothbearing snugly against the last-named guides. (See Fig. 7.) \Vhen thethus-mounted fabric arrives at the bent arms cl, supporting the adjustably-retained guide 0, it will be seen, referring to Fig. 8, that thereflexed arms and their guide lie wholly Within and are practicallyconcealed by the upper and lower or inner and outer sides of the cloth,the bend or elbow 29 also serving as a guide at the point or line of,where the cloth is refolded, the guide I) then lying between the twothicknesses of cloth above and the two below, as before stated. (SeeFig. 7.)

When the machine is in operation, the attendant is stationed at theright at the point B, Fig. 3, his duty being to so pull or draw the twoselvages of the cloth as to keep them true and parallel and sufficientlyin line with each other and at the same time keep the fabric free fromwrinkles and in proper contact with the outer edges of the left andright guides 12 o.

By means of my improvement it will be seen that the outer edge of theadjustable guide 0 bears against the middle line a of the clothtraveling above and beneath the guide and its bent arm in such mannerthat the inner fold or half of the cloth lies within the angleof theelbow 19, while the outer fold lies over or outside of it. The otherguide I) is separated from a about one-fourth of the width of the cloth,the width of the fold being controlled by said distance. This guidebbears against the twice-doubled cloth and determines the line of thesecond bend or fold (1 so as to make the cloth four ply or twice folded.

Goods folded accorded to my improvement present a smooth, neat, andregular appearance, the several folds being uniform and true.

In Figs. 12, 13, 14, and 15 I have represented various forms of a widefabric folded so as to make a four-ply thickness. The said figures alsoindicate the position or relation of the laterally-separated secondaryguides 12 c to the folds. I would state, however, that I consider thearrangement shown in Figs 12 and 15 as being the most practical, thelastnamed being substantially the same as shown in Figs. 4, 7, 8, and11. In Fig. 12 there are two series of left guides 12, one being abovethe other. In all cases I prefer that the two selvages of the clothafter being doubled or folded lie on the same side of the machine, thesame, as drawn, being the right side.

Although the several arms are represented in the drawings as beingsubstantially rectangular cross-sectionally, it is obvious that arms ofany suitable shape may be used. The first or initial guide may be placedhorizontally instead of vertically, the once-folded cloth next passingtherefrom to the secondary plates to be again folded.

The precise construction and arrangement of the parts represented may bedeparted from or modified by the use of substantial equivalents withoutdeparting from the essential features of the invention.

I do not claim, broadly, a folding-machine arranged to automatically andcontinuously fold webs of fabrics or other flexible material; but

What I do claim as my invention is- 1. The combination of an initialguide or folder with oppositely'arranged secondary guides b c and fixedarms having said secondary guides secured to the free ends thereof,substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a device for initially or first folding a webof fabric longitudinally, of oppositely located secondary folder-guidesI) 0, arranged parallel with each other and lengthwise of the web, andarms or supports carrying said secondary guides, fixed to one side ofthe machine, and suitably mounted and actuated rolls for drawing thefabric through the machine, substantially as hereinbefore described, andfor the purpose set forth.

3. In aclotlrfolding machine, the combination of one or more guides 12,an oppositelylocated guide or guides c, and bent or re flexed armshaving said guides 0 adj ustably being attached to one side of themachine, 10 secured thereto, said guides and arms being substantially asdescribed. arranged to receive a web of folded cloth end- In testimonywhereof I have affixed my sigwise and refold it, substantially asdescribed. nature in presence of two witnesses.

5 4. In a cloth-folding machine, a series of oppositely-arrangedstationary folder-guides JEROME CLARK having their outer edges adaptedto engage Witnesses: the folds of the traveling fabric, and arms CHARLESHANNIGAN, having said guides secured thereto, said arms GEORGE W. GOULD.

